Clemson Intent On Balancing Offense

Run-happy Tigers Look To Improve Air Attack

August 27, 1997|By Dave Johnson Daily Press

CLEMSON, S.C. — As Clemson's third offensive coordinator in three years, Steve Ensminger hopes to radically change the offensive philosophy without losing people along the way. It's never an easy task.

``Complicated simplicity,'' Ensminger calls it. ``Look complicated, but be very simple and know what you're doing.''

Since Tommy West's first full season as head coach in 1994 - and years before, actually - figuring out the Tigers' offense required as much brainpower as dusting your coffee table. Tailback off-tackle, fullback dive, an occasional short pass.

West had co-coordinators his first two seasons here - Clyde Christensen and Rick Stocksdale. Christensen took a job with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the '95 season, and Stocksdale was re-assigned to wide receivers. West replaced them with ex-North Carolina coordinator Darrell Moody prior to '96.

West hoped this change would make Clemson's attack more diverse. Instead, the Tigers were more one-dimensional than ever, leading the ACC in rushing with 199 yards per game but finishing next-to-last in passing with 142. So after last season, West fired Moody.

Then, after first offering the job to Virginia Tech coordinator Rickey Bustle, who turned it down, West hired Ensminger. If West wanted somebody with experience in a diversified attack, he got it. Ensminger was the quarterbacks coach at Georgia from 1991-93, when he worked with Eric Zeier. The Bulldogs also had tailback Garrison Hearst.

For the past three years, the 38-year-old Ensminger was the coordinator at Texas A&M. The Aggies averaged 404 yards per game last season - 230 on the ground, 174 in the air. A&M also attempted 27 passes per game.

Taking over an offense that features tailback Raymond Priester, already the school's all-time leading rusher, Ensminger has no plans to turn Clemson into Brigham Young. He just wants the Tigers to understand that passing is not just for desperate situations.

``We want to be a little more versatile, a little more balanced,'' he said. ``Personnel-wise, we want to use everybody on the field to their ability. For example, the tight end shouldn't be just a blocker. He must be a receiver, too.

``I think this program compares favorably to Georgia and A&M. Both had always been running programs. We certainly want to continue running the football very effectively, but we want to mix in the passing game. The job of the coordinator is to evaluate the talent he has and put together a game plan with that talent.''

Here's what Ensminger has: Priester, who has rushed for 2,671 yards and 12 touchdowns the last two seasons; a veteran offensive line that features two seniors, Glenn Rountree and Jim Bundren, who have played 35 straight games; a quarterback, Nealon Greene, who is entering his fourth year as a starter; and a proven receiver in Tony Horne.

Moody had that cast last year, but Clemson still averaged 20 passes and 45 rushing attempts per game.

``Hopefully, and I really believe, the big difference is that we'll have a better play-action passing game,'' West said. ``We've really worked hard at it. We'd like to keep the running game where it is and move the passing game up.''

Greene, who has produced modest numbers in his career, will be directing his third offensive system in three years.

``Yeah, it feels kind of like I'm starting all over again,'' he said. ``But this offense is a lot more fun. We're learning something new every day. One of the big differences is that we're going to use more of our talent and get more people involved in our offense.''

West says he has already seen some progress.

``We're certainly a lot better offensively now than we were three years ago,'' he said. ``We labored to get a first down three years ago. Steve's done a great job of being patient and bringing the passing game along.''